The Republican journal., 1887-12-01
NUMBER 4S.
The 10Th Maine.
[ENtraets from Army Letters from the 'FRONT.'

[Extraets from Army Letters from the 'FRONT.'
NO. 3.
The 10Th Maine left Bollver Heights and
moyed along with the rest of the army
through Loudon Valley, that gave us such
nice pigs and chickens. Here the 18th got the
name OF being the worst regiment to forage in
the old 2nd Corps. Gen. Mcclellan rcpri-
nlaned Gen. Gorham tour brigade command
err for allowing his men to forage on the IN
habitants of Loudon Valley. Gen Gorham, Il
grut( old officer, Smartng under the rehuke of
his commanding General rode up to Col. Baxter,
saying: ''Col., did YOU ever see n regiment that
could forage like the 10Th Maine?' NO, Gem
eraI, never did, ..'rben. Colonel. as your
superior officer command YOU to get down on
your knees and thank God" AT Warrington
village we took leave of our old commander
Little Mae and thousands of his Old soldiers
gazed OIL him for the last time with ewes dim
med with tears as he rode down the line and
disappeared from View forever. On our ar
rival at Falmouth we Went into camp about
two miles above Fredericksburg to await the
ar:lva! of pontoon> to cross the river. There has
since the cold. wet weather set in and the sick
are sent away to hospitals us fast as possible.
Our brigade is composed of the 34th and send
New York. 18th Massachusetts,, 1,t Minnesota
and 10Th Maine. and is commanded by Col.
Morehead. Of Penn. Gen. Howard commands
the division, and lis empty sleeve makes him
ever welcome with Us.
On Tie morning of Dee llth the thunder Of
cannon announced the arrival of the pontoon
boats. Soon the order came to fall in and we
packed up and marched down the river oppo-
site Fredericksburg to await the laying of
pohtoon bridge to cross on. Al! that cold, wet
day we lay On our arms and waited for the
boys who We're at work, doing the best they
could. exposed to the fire of sharpshooter-
Who held the city and picked oil the men. 1t
was carry out plank or a stick of timber and
bring back 4 dead or woundea comrade: all
day this went or, until The sun was sinking in
Tie west. when call was made for a regiment
to eros, the river i'll the pontoon boats and
drive the rebels out. The .th Michigan, |
think, jumped into the boats and made quick
work after they got across. The bottoms of
the boats Were stained with the life blood of
many brave boy.
1t took but a short time to complete the
bridge and the lst brigade. md division. md
Corps. the 10Th leading. crossed into the city.
y detail was soon made from the 10Th to 90 on
picket. The writer was one Of the number,
and | assure my readers that it was Il lone
sonie. dark night. When daylight came we
found ourselves in front of Il rebel battery and
they We're getting ready for business. NV po-
slton came near a large oak post and stuck
to that post like flea to a doc. Soon the ball
opened and shot and shell flew thick and fast
for a few minutes. Then orders came to ioin
the regiment supporting a battery shellng
rebel battery that was ANNOYING cur bows.
The shells came nnncrously. bursting close
and causing the boys to dodge. 1t annoyed
Gen. Howard very much, and he called out
"Attention 18th. don't dodge boys. The dam
ger is all over after the report" In less thana
minute she'll burst within few feet and
quie eker than thought down went his head onto
his horse. The boys all saw the performance
anH with that rare familiarity with superior
officers which is only tolerated in the midst of
danger. called ont Don't dodge Cen. the
danger is all over when You have heard the re-
port" y smile was visible on the old Gcncr-
ais face through the smoke He could take
joke as well as give one. On the third day Our
brigade was ordered ont onto the field to make
charge up the heights. After we got into
position we formed in line of battle the 10Th
leading. Ours was a new regiment and it was
said by some Of The veterans that they put u
IN
enough to follow. BE that Il, it may, they new
CT had occasion to do it again. Scarcely hal
we formed when the rebels opened cross fire
at close range, and never did shells tly faster
thaa they did for few minutes. Orders were
given to lie down and they We're VERY readily
obeycd. The 18th being in the lead rot a little
shelter and the other regiments in our rear
cou!j not stand the fire. and 50 got out the
best they could. One shell that passed over
Go. +. 18Th. and burst in the 18th Massaclul-
sets killed twelve men and wounded many
more.
Why we were put III there and not ordered
20 make the charge up tile hill will remain
mystery to many. We lay in that position, suf-
fering terribly from cold, until midnight, when
Gen. Howard came onto the field cheering Us
up with the report that we should soon be re-
leased. We picked oar way back into the city
having lost many Of our best men and acconl-
pli>hel nothing. | don't think there was a
man in the army except possibly the COM
mantn5 I'eneraD who had thoughts of sue
cess. It was send IN one command and get
them cut to pieces and then send in another
The Irish brigade was sent in near where we
were MI nearly annihilatcd.
On the night Of the third day we recrossed
the river and marched back into our old quar-
ter> and laid down to rest. not even pitching
our tents. In the mornin. il was raining
great guns, and the boys were soaking wet,
hungry and tired. Then Is when the home
sickness comes in. " hat would your humble
servant have given to have been ont of tha,
place. Burnside had gained nothing and lost
thousands of his best men. 1t was a lonely
time for many days after this battle.
fulmOilth Dec. 1862